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Printers Have Hard Drives
That’s right, your printer stores copies of documents on a hard drive that can be accessed, duplicated or distributed. Did you know that if you connect your printer unsecured to the internet that potentially anyone can access this data at anytime? That’s right, all those sensitive company or personal documents are at risk to internet thieves.

86,000 Unsecured Online Printers
In a recent internet search, a UK blogger found 86,000 HP printers unsecured and available. This number is staggering considering that this is not a specific problem with HP but will include virtually all major printer brands like Brother, Canon, Lexmark and more. Once you add in all the other brands, this figure will rise dramatically. Is your printer one of these?

How To Secure Your Online Printer
Most printers come with a variety of security features, each make/ model will be different. High level security encryption and security keys used to only be available features on the larger MFP and copiers. Now most small internet ready printers have these features as well. We suggest reading your user manual on what security features are available and most importantly, Use Them!

Lexmark To Exit Inkjet Market By The End Of 2013
In an industry that is coming under increased competition and decreased sales, Lexmark has announced a shift in strategies and will no longer continue in the inkjet market. Lexmark will focus it’s attention on high volume business printing while abandoning the consumer market. Bad news for consumers but good news for stock holders with stocks climbing up 13.7% on the announcement.

What Does This Mean If You Have a Lexmark Inkjet Printer?Lexmark has announced that all inkjet related production will cease by the end of 2013 and will no longer manufacture OEM ink cartridges. They will continue to provide service, support and aftermarket (Non-OEM) supplies. This means consumers will be forced to buy remanufactured cartridges or in some cases buy new printers.

Will I Have To Buy A New Printer?
Not right away since there are still OEM and aftermarket supplies available. Remanufactured cartridges are available for most models. These remanufactured cartridges are dependent on having empty cores/ cartridges and when these run out, so will aftermarket options. This won’t happen for a long times since estimates have current OEM availability at 3-6 months from the time manufacturing stops, aftermarket supplies will run out 3-6 months after that.

Lexmark has announced plans to sell it’s inkjet patents. When Lexmark sells it’s patents, the buyer will then be legally able to manufacture OEM quality cartridges. If and when this could possibly happen is unknown at this time.

Say No To Lexmark’s Firmware Updates!
Lexmark has released new firmware updates that promise end users improved prints. Many of these consumers choose aftermarket supplies because of the extreme price tags Lexmark has for it’s consumables. Unknowingly consumers have installed the new software that prevents any aftermarket cartridge from working in these printers. The consumer must install all OEM cartridges in order for the printer to print. This firmware upgrade is irreversible according to Lexmark.

Is This Anti-Competitive, Restrictive Trade Practice Legal?
Consumers are crying “Foul” and stated they were unaware that they would no longer have a choice of supplies. Many have gone farther to say they feel duped or tricked. Aftermarket manufacturers say this creates a clear Monopoly and is a clear violation of the law. Lexmark is setting a dangerous precedent not only in the imaging aftermarket but the global aftermarket. What’s next, will you be forced to buy dealership car parts and won’t be able to buy aftermarket (Autozone, NAPA) replacements? With big names like IBM, Katun and Static Control heavily invested in the aftermarket, law suits are sure to follow. We will keep you posted with any developments that happen.

What Can I Do To Prevent This Happening To Me?
Turn off automatic updates for all brands of printers. Many updates do not affect the average consumer. Make sure you read all terms and conditions for any software/ firmware update. Have employees sign employee firmware agreements that require manager approval before updating. Apply warning labels/ stickers to all your printers to not update the firmware without approval.

The Magnuson-MossWarranty Act(P.L. 93-637) is a United States federal law (15 U.S.C. § 2301 et seq.). Enacted in 1975, it is the federal statute that governs warranties on consumer products.

What does that mean for the re-manufacturing industry?
It means that it is illegal for a company to void a warranty on the basis that the consumer is not using a specific branded product. In other words, using re-manufactured products will not void a printer’s warranty!

To understand how a laserjet printer prints is to understand the basics of electrical charges like static electricity. This is how a laserjet printer makes a powder toner adhere to a piece of paper. The first thing is to understand the opposites attract. This is how magnets work, positive charges are attracted to and stick to negative charges.
To explain this in basic terms:

1. The printer puts a negative charge on the paper.
3. The printer’s laser spreads a negative electrostatic image onto a positively charged drum (reversing the polarity only where the image is)
2. The drum roller with the negatively charged image rolls over the positively charged toner, picking the toner on the image only (opposites attract).
3. The paper is then feed to the fuser unit where hot rollers heat up the paper and press the toner onto the paper. Since the toner is partly made up of plastic, the plastic melts and gets pressed to the paper making it adhere permanently.
4. The finished product is rolled out.